Have you ever noticed that when you gripe and grumble about the actions or lack of action by someone else, the Holy Spirit ends up feeding you humble pie with testy-temper sauce? Ugh! I just had a meal of it, and even have some nasty leftovers to swallow. You see, I was not just experiencing unpleasant
circumstances that were the result of another’s actions. I was blaming the other person for my own shortcomings as well. While it was true that circumstances out of my control hindered me from accomplishing everything that I needed to, which was frustrating, I was too busy licking my wounds and pouting to deal with what I could have done. If I would have continued to work as unto the Lord, for His glory, I could have accomplished much. Instead I allowed my pride to hold me hostage. I kept imagining that the other person was making me look bad, which I resented. I wickedly spouted off my complaint
to a third party. I thought I had a great hand to play in the blame game but still came out a loser. I owe an apology to God and both people. The icky taste in my mouth and stressful feeling I am experiencing will not go away until I follow through on that.
Do you ever make excuses for yourself? I remember years ago when I was a teachers’ aide at a small private school. Groups of children from nine grade levels came into my room for various activities, including spelling. One fifth-grader came in day after day without her spelling assignments completed.
She came up with so many creative excuses that it did not surprise me at all when she embarked on a career in drama as a young adult. The excuses did not help her one bit. I did not accept hers, nor does God accept mine. There were consequences in the balance when the day of reckoning came. We had to
fess up. Thankfully, we both experienced forgiveness. I still loved my young student and God still loves me.
It is bizarrely simple to focus on the faults of others. It is incredibly beneficial to focus on their potential instead. God did not hire me to play the part of the Holy Spirit. If He reveals a weakness in another person, He does it with the intention of using me as an encourager, witness or prayer warrior. Being snooty or playing the part of a victim doesn’t help anyone, including myself. All that happened when I did that was to go backwards a few steps as far as maturity in Christ Jesus goes.
Oh Lord, please excuse my rough edges. No! Wait! Lord, please forgive me for the rough edges and help me polish them down so they don’t snag me again.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV) As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.